Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, leaves St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Katonah following the funeral of Anne Marie Murphy Thursday.

Written by

Rob Ryser
| The Journal News

Cardinal Timothy Dolan came Thursday to help a grieving parish mourn the loss of Anne Marie Murphy, the 52-year-old special-education teacher who was slain in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

Telling a packed sanctuary at St. Mary of the Assumption Church during her funeral that he never met the mother of four who grew up in Katonah, the Archbishop of New York said he did know Jesus.

"Like Jesus, Annie was an excellent teacher; like him, she had a favored place in her big, tender heart for children, especially those with struggles," Dolan said during the homily. "Like Jesus, Annie ...